In a move that underscores international recognition of past atrocities, the Swiss parliament has officially labeled the actions of Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidi community in Iraq as genocide. The Swiss National Council, the lower house of Switzerland’s Federal Assembly, passed the motion with a majority vote of 105 to 61. These actions included systematic expulsions, rapes, and murders, along with cultural destruction within the Yazidi community.
The legislative motion calls for global reparations and justice for the victims, aligning Switzerland with several other nations and bodies such as the United Nations and the European Parliament, which have similarly recognized the campaign against Yazidis as a genocidal act. Countries like Armenia, Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK have also taken steps to formally acknowledge these atrocities.
The United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) has also confirmed evidence suggesting genocidal intent in the ISIS-led attacks on the Yazidi community. The attack on the Yazidis’ heartland of Shingal in August 2014 led to thousands of deaths and abductions. Approximately 5,000 Yazidis were killed, and 6,417 women and children were kidnapped and subjected to forced labor and sexual slavery, further strengthening calls for international action and investigation.
This recognition comes at a time when judicial proceedings against individuals involved in such crimes continue globally. Notably, a Swedish court recently indicted a woman for crimes against humanity related to the enslavement of Yazidi women. Similarly, a Dutch court convicted an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis, indicating ongoing international legal efforts to address this genocide.
The Swiss parliament’s decision is part of a broader global initiative aimed at providing justice and reparations for Yazidi victims and highlights the growing international consensus on categorizing the Da’esh campaign against Yazidis as genocide. This decision further solidifies Switzerland’s commitment to human rights and international law, joining other countries and international organizations in advocating for accountability and reparations for the victims.